Typical workflow processes that should be mobilized are contracts that need customer signatures, expense reports that need approval, and shipment and delivery requests. Instead of printing, filling out and submitting paperwork, the recipient can approve the request on a mobile device while in an airport, at a customer site, and from the workplace.

Every company has business processes that keep the work flowing forward, and many companies rely on workflow software to standardize common activities across the entire organization. Workflow applications have proven extremely beneficial in automating routine tasks such as approvals for vacations, purchase orders and timesheets. In retail, manufacturing, delivery/transport and other niche industries, workflow applications are incredible time savers and often reduce human errors.

A standard rule of thumb is that any task that involves three or more people takes seven business days to complete. When one of those people is out of the office, that completion timeframe can move closer to 10 days. Mobilizing workflow applications keeps business activities moving forward, potentially decreasing task completion times from seven days to seven minutes.

Mobilizing workflow takes away the hassle of e-mail notifications, searching for Wi-Fi connections, accessing the VPN, then logging into a system to approve. New mobile workflow capabilities eliminate those multiple steps. Recipients need only to open the workflow notification on their smartphone, and all the necessary information is available to approve or decline.

According to Willie Jow, vice president for business operations and mobility product marketing for Sybase, mobilizing internal business processes is a significant first step toward creating a truly mobile environment. This type of mobility leads to business process reengineering that can spread throughout the enterprise and lead to new, long-term strategies. This slideshow highlights the benefits organizations can gain from mobilizing their workflow applications process.

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